October 2017 Goals

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I cannot believe that it is already October. Where has this year gone? The Cocoa Beach Half is less than four weeks away and the Naples half is less than 15 weeks away. It is crazy how fast both races are coming. I have pretty big goals for both races, but Naples is my biggest running goal thus far.

This past week I had to really take a step back and reevaluate my workouts and how they are affecting my running. I exercise a lot and it is taking it’s toll on me. I have been following a half-marathon training plan from Another Mother Runner for the Cocoa Beach Half and I have been able to fully complete the workouts in the last few weeks. My legs are fatigued. My body is fatigued. I know that if I continue exercising the way I have been exercising I will either get injured or just plain burned out.

Finding a good balance while training for two big races is complicated. Quite honestly I want to just be told what to do and when to do it. I can help other people day in and day out, but when it comes to my own training I just can’t seem to get it together. This is why I called Jess from Race Pace Wellness. I have worked with Jess in the past and not only do I love her training plans, I love her support. We discussed all my workouts, my goals and what I needed to get to where I want to be in January. I need a coach to push me and to hold me back. I am my own worst enemy, because I will push myself too hard thinking that is what is best, even though it clearly is not. So as of October 2nd I am officially a #racepacerunner again.

What does being a #racepacerunner mean to me. It means I will be following Jess’s plan for me and only her plan. To get to my goals I need to be selfish and to do what is good for me. Naples is only the beginning of what I want to achieve in 2018, but it is the starting point and meeting my Naples goal (1:45 half) is key. I am sure there a people that won’t be happy with my choices, but I am going to do what is good for me and what it going to get me to my goals. I am literally in the best shape of my life and I plan to leverage that to push myself further than I ever have in my entire life. Look out 2018, because I am coming for you!

Okay so I am getting way ahead of myself, this post is supposed t o be about my goals for October. I plan to take one month at a time. Short term goals to get me to my bigger, long term goals.

Here are my goals for this month:

Follow my #Racepacerunner training plan. I plan to follow this plan and this plan only. If it is not on the plan I am not doing it. If you know me at all then you know I tend to overdo and push myself way too hard. My goal for this month is to moderate myself by following this plan. I am sorry to anyone who my be upset or disappointed when I can’t do a workout, but I need to do what is best for me and my goals.

Foam roll daily. I totally slack in this area and daily is a lofty goal, but I know I have the time to take a few minutes a day to foam roll, especially with reigning in my workouts.

No alcohol. This is tough. I really like my beer and wine. I also like the occasional cocktail when I go out to dinner, but this month I fully intend to refrain. I want to see what refraining does for my training, if anything. Sober October.

In addition I have decided to create an A, B and C goal for the Cocoa Beach Half. FOr races I usually have one goal and a “secret” goal. The “secret” goal is usually my reach goal that I don’t want to put out there in the world due to fear of being disappointed. This has worked for me in the past, but I really just want to put it all out there this time. I have goals, but I don’t necessarily want those goals to be my driving factor. Races are unpredictable and one could have the best training only to have an awful race or the orst training only to have a great race. My hopes with an A, B and C goal I will have covered my best case scenario and my worst, with the hopes I meet my best of course! Plus I feel with three goals I will be less disappointed if I don’t hit my A goal.

Below are my Cocoa Beach goals:

Goal A: 1:50:00

Goal B: A PR, which means under 1:54:36

Goal C: Under 2 hours.

I think this month will be very telling of my running future. I will be honest and tell you that I am nervous. Cutting back on exercise makes me nervous. I feel and look better than I have in years and I fear cutting back will send me back to where I was in January. I know that this is an irrational fear, but it is my fear nonetheless. I am putting my trust in Jess. I know she knows what is right for me and we will make adjustments along the way if things don’t work. Plus, I have my weekly phone calls with her which definitely serves as a much needed therapy session along with my training updates.

I am ready to work my ass off to reach all of my upcoming goals. I won’t let anything or anyone get in my way, including myself.

What are your October goals?

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About Toni Church

My name is Toni and I am a mother, wife, runner, blogger and RN originally from Long Island. I now reside in Tampa Bay. I blog about running, health, fitness and my life. Follow my journey as I run, love and live my life to the fullest.

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Comments

I think you have a great plan. And, it’s wise that you realized sometimes we cannot have it all.Working out nonstop makes us feel great (and look great!), but it is possible to have too much of a great thing. Like you said, the race day itself has its own twists and issues…time and again, I have trained well for races only to show up on race day and have some unforeseen thing (or several) smack me in the face. Good luck!Kimberly Hatting recently posted..Can You Say EPIC?

What great introspection, and you do need to do what’s good for YOU. As for me, I am running two marathons two weeks apart in October, and my goal is just to finish! I am a slow runner so I never have any time goals except not to be swept off the course!The Accidental Marathoner recently posted..Let’s Wine ~~ September 2017

Great goals for October! I need to get a little more focused as I have no races on schedule, except for pacing a 10k this coming weekend!Anna @ Piper’s Run recently posted..Sometimes You Just Need to Run

Hey – great goals! I want to work on a under 2 hour half marathon again too, it’s been awhile since I’ve done that! and good luck with sober October. We decided on a whim to have a sober 2017!!! It was hard the first 3 weekends and easy from there on out. Ha ha. I wonder if I’ll have a drink AT midnight on new year’s eve. LOLLea recently posted..Fall in love with this Pumpkin Spice Protein Shake

I think this plan is great You KNOW that Jess will give you a good plan. Whenever minor injury or life events have interfered with my training, I’ve always done better than expected, likely because I was better rested or not over-trained.Coco recently posted..Alternative Plantar Fasciitis Treatment

I’m intrigued to hear how the no alcohol thing goes for you in October. I’m going to guess that it’ll have a positive impact, but you never know until you try. With it being marathon week for me, I’m holding off from drinking any alcohol myself until after the race, at which point I’ll definitely be celebrating with some adult beverages. 🙂Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted..Chicago Marathon Training Log – Week 17

Great goals and great approach Toni! This is the point in any training plan where it’s normal to feel burnt out as this is peak time. With your race only 44\ weeks away, you only have 2 more weeks or so of hard training, then it’s taper time. I’ve watched your progress this year and I’m sure you will crush your goals, it may not feel like it right now but I’m sure you’ll do it!

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Hi! I’m Toni

My name is Toni and I am a mother, wife, runner, blogger and RN originally from Long Island. I now reside in Tampa Bay. I blog about running, health, fitness and my life.

This year I am taking my training to a new level as I train to run a 1:45 half marathon in 2018 in Naples. Follow me as I run, love and live my life to the fullest! Run Often, Love Completely, Live Fully